Air-brush.



No. 653,496. Patent'ed July l0, I900,

0. C. WULD.

AIR BRUSH;

(Appliction filed May 6, 1899.)

(No Model.)

I fi' Zflzfiressas azzus ZfZaZ m: nonms PETERS c0. PHomLm-m WASHINGTON, n. :4

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICEQ CLAUS C. WOLD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TIIAYER & CHANDLER, OF SAME PLACE.

AIR-BRUSH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,496, dated July 10, 1900.

Application filed May 6,1899. Serial No. 715,823. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLAUs C. WOLD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Air-Brushes, (Case No. 3,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forminga part of this specification.

My invention relates to brushes of the type generally known as air-brushes, in which liquid pigment is distributed by means of air under pressure. Such devices are illustrated in my United States Patents Nos. 555,669 and 595,931.

' My invention has for its object the improvement of the mechanism of air-brushes whereby the adjustment thereof may be eifected by those not familiar with the mechanism of air-brushes without danger of injuring the delicate parts, and also has for its object the provision of improved mechanism whereby the degree of fineness of the spray as it issues from the brush may be readily adjusted. This mechanism consists, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, of a tip or nozzle having threaded engagement with a body portion of the brush, the inner wall of the tip forming a wall of a conical passage through which the air is conveyed under pressure. By the adjustment of this tip longitudinally of the needle the size of the passage may be adjusted, and thereby the degree of fineness of the spray of pigment controlled.-

Another feature of the invention consists in providing a reservoir for the pigment, the capacity of which may be adjusted according to the amount of pigment to be used in a given time; and it consists in providing a reservoir, preferably of cylindrical shape, having separable sections for enlarging or decreasing the capacity of the reservoir.

A third feature of my invention consists in a stationarysleeve surrounding the needle and serving at its end portions snugly to fit the needle to g'uide'the sam'e accurately in its longitudinal travel, the portion of the sleeve intermediate between its ends being enlargedto form a passage or space around the needle in which any ink or pigment that may find its way backward from the point of the needle may be received to prevent its being passed to other working parts and injuring the same. The ink or pigment dries within this space, and when the brush is to be cleaned it may readily be removed therefrom. In the brushes as heretofore constructed an operating fingerlever was employed to impart longitudinal movement to the needle through the agency of a back lever. This same finger-lever also served to actuate the valve for controlling the supply of air under pressure, and in its operation for the latter purpose would have constant frictional contact with the back lever, whereby the engaging portions of the finger and back levers became worn. In the operation of air-brushes it is only necessary to shift the needle during a very small fraction of the time, as the needle should be so adjusted as never entirely toclose the conical passage through which the pigment is being conveyed. The invention in this connection provides for a construction wherein the part interposed between the finger-lever and the needle for shifting the same longitudinally is normally out of contact with the said fingerlever, slight lost motion between the fingerlever and the said part being provided for when the finger-lever is to actuate the needle, so that the finger-lever may perform its function of controlling the supply of air without wearing away the back lever or portion for actuating the needle.

Another feature of the invention consists in improved mechanism for adjusting the initial position of the needle with reference to the nozzle by the user, which may thereby be accomplished without danger of injuring the delicate parts of the brush. Q

I will explain the foregoing and additional features of my invention by reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the brush with parts thereof in elevation. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a portion intervening between the finger-lever and the needle for shifting the needle longitudinally. Fig. 3 shows the finger-lever and the valve-stem in end elevation, these parts being shown disunited. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevation of IOD my improved device for effecting the initial adjustment of the needle. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are respectively side, back, and front views of a tapered slotted sleeve for clamping the needle. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a plug having a threaded stem for clamping the tapered sleeve about the needle. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the adjustable nozzle. Fig. 10 isa side elevation of a part of the body portion in which the nozzle is inserted. Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view on line 11 11 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view on line 12 12 of Fig. 1.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the different figures.

In the body portion a, which is preferably metallic, is provided a receptacle for the pigment made up of separable cylindrical sections Z) Z). The pigment may issue from this receptacle or reservoir through an axial bore in the portion 0, having communication with receptacle 1) along the needle through the opening 0, a continuation of which bore is formed by the interior of the sleeve (1 and the tapered tip upon the front end thereof. The needle 0 passes through the bore, which is slightly larger than the needle to permit of the flow of ink along the same, the conical end of the needle serving to control the size of the conical passage in said tip, and thereby the quantity of ink to be emitted through the nozzle. A nozzle f, provided with a conical bore, surrounds the tip upon the sleeve (1, the portion of the nozzle directly surrounding the said tip presenting a conical wall to said tip, whereby a conical passage is provided through which air is forced under pressure, as will be described. The inner end of the nozzle f preferably has threaded engagement with the portion 0, whereby the adjustment of the nozzle toward or from the said tip may be effected to control the size of the conical air-passage. Other means may be employed for effecting the longitudinal adjustment of the nozzle.

To make the spray coarse, the nozzle f is screwed in. To obtain a finer spray,the nozzle is unscrewed. The adjustment is delicate, three or four turns of the nozzle marking: the preferred limit of adjustment.

An annular space 9 is provided between the portion 0, screwed into the portion a, and the latter portion, this annular space having communication with the conical air-passage through an intervening cylindrical. passage and three small holes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 11. An air-duct communicates between the passage 9 and the controlling air-valve. The stem h of the air-valve is permanently pivoted to the finger-lever 1', whereby the shouldered sleeve 70, surrounding a reduced lower extension of the stem h, the spring surrounding said sleeve, and the nut Z for securing the spring in place may all readily be removed without causing the displacement of the valve-stem and breaking the connection between the same and the finger-lever when access is desired to the interior parts. This construction I believe to be novel, as heretofore when access was had to the valve parts a disengagement was sure to occur between the fin ger-lever and the valve-stennwhich engagement is diflicult to reeifeet on account of the small construction of the parts. The finger-lever is provided with a knurled finger-plate. The lever extends through a longitudinal slot and is bifurcated at its lower portion to inclose the needle and the sleeve m, surrounding the same. The sleeve m has threaded engagement with the body portion a. at the rear of the reservoir 11, the tube or sleeve passing through and terminating at the front wall of the reservoir. The portion of the sleeve within the reservoir is of reduced diameter to afiord additional space for the pigment. The interior portion of the sleeve intermediate between its ends is enlarged to provide a space to receive the pigment that may travel back along the needle. The sleeve is stationary, affording elongated bearings at its ends for accurately guiding the needle in its longitudinal travel.

To actuate the needle, I provide a portion n, preferably in the form of a sleeve, surrounding the tube, a suitable connection (preferably that hereinafter to be described) being provided between the said sleeve or needle-actuating portion and the needle. A rearward tubular extension of the portion in forms aspring-barrel, in which a coiled spring 0 is placed, this spring engaging at its forward end an interior annular shoulder on the portion 71 and at its other end an adjusting nut or sleeve 19, having threaded engagement with the tube 171, this nut being employed for the purpose of adjusting the tension of the spring. The sleeve 12. is longitudinally movable and is preferably prevented from rotating by means of a feather (1 upon the same engaging a corresponding recess in the shell of the brush. The nutp being stationary, the spring 0 tends tomove the sleeve a forward. The forward movement of the sleeve n is limited by adjusting-nuts 1', engaging a threaded portion of the said sleeve, the said nuts limiting the forward motion of the sleeve by their ongagement with an opposing shoulder within the shell of the brush. By proper adjustment the sleeve a may be prevented from having engagement at its forward end with the lever i when the said lever is merely employed to actuate the air-valve, whereby undue wear between the said sleeve and lever is prevented, a very slight lost motion being preferably provided for when the said lever is to actuate the sleeve 71 to effect longitudinal movement of the needle. In order that theinitial position of the needle may be adjusted by the user, I connect the needle with the sleeve or needleshifting portion a by a tubular portion .9, which is provided with a ribbed surface, to which the finger of the operator may have access through a slot 25 in the shell of the brush.

The sleeve 3 has threadedengagement with a threaded portion of the sleeve 11, whereby the sleeve 8 may be adjusted longitudinally of the sleeve 12. to efiect the desired initial adjustment of the needle. The nuts r prevent the needle from being adjusted too far forward; but the rearward adjustment of the needle may be as great as desired to increase the size of the conical passage directly surrounding the tip of the needle at the nozzle of the brush through which the pigment is emitted. The-spring 0 moves the needle forward through its engagement with the shoulder or sleeve 91, connected to the needle through the sleeve 8, nut r, and split sleeve 1;. The needle is retracted by the engagement of the lever 41 with sleeve n.

The sleeve 8 is provided with a rearward extension it, having a conical seat for a split or slotted tapered or conical sleeve or plugo, having a bore to fi't the needle. A cap w, having a threaded extension, screws into the end of the extension u against the opposing face of the sleeve or plug 4;, the said plug serving to clamp the sleeve normally in place between the conical wall of the sleeve and the needle, whereby the needle is securely clamped in position. The plugo is provided with four slots, which divide the plug into four parts, that are held together by a head a). The bore of the sleeve or plugo serves to permit the needle to pass freely therethrough when the sleeve is removed from clamping engagement with the needle. By providing the tapered sleeve and the corresponding tapered engaging surface in the extension u a clamping means is provided which accurately centers the needle.

The needle of an air-brush has to be frequently removed in order to keep it clean,

and by means of my construction this is readily accomplished simply by removing the handle a: of the brush and unscrewing the portions u and 8. By the provision of said cap and sleeve wear between the parts clam ping the needle in place is compensated for.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 1 that the conical passage through which the air is conveyed under pressure has its outer wall tapered at a more oblique angle than the inner wall, whereby a better suction is secured and the adjustment of the section very readily effected by the longitudinal movement of the nozzle f.

The general operation of the device may be described as follows: The liquid pigment is placed within the receptacle b. 1 Air is admitted under pressure through the air-passage or valve-opening controlled by the valve-leveri in a manner well known, the air finding passage through the annular space g, from which it is passed to the space between the nozzle f and the tapered sleeve inclosed thereby. The air passing through the nozzle f causes the ink in receptacle b to pass through the hole 0' and the bore in the portion 0, surrounding the needle e, whereby the pigment or ink is forced through the nozzle upon the work.

The size of the spray is controlled by the longitudinal movement of the valve-lever i,which effects the longitudinal movement of the needle through the agency of the sleeve 12. and the parts interposed between the same and the needle, while the quantity of air supplied to the needle is controlled by the vertical movement of the lever i.

It will be apparent to those familiar with the art of air-brushes that my construction herein presents many novel and useful features by which many defects heretofore existing are removed, and while I have herein shown and described a preferred form of brush constructed in accordance with my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise features shown; but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In an air-brush, the combination with a portion provided with a passage for conveying the pigment to the point of' application of a reservoir for the pigment having communication with said passage, the said reservoir being formed in separable sections, one of the sections being permanently secured to the air-brush and the other being removable from the said section, whereby the capacity of the reservoir may be readily adjusted by the use of one or more sections, substantially asdescribed.

2. In an air-brush, the combination with a portion provided with a passage for conveying the pigment, of a needle inserted within the said passage for controlling the flow of the pigment, a lever for effecting the longitudinal movement of the needle, and a fixed sleeve surrounding the needle and at the ends snugly inclosing separated portions of the needle properly to aline the needle and guide the same in its longitudinal travel, substantially as described.

3. In an air-brush, the combination with a portion provided with a passage for conveying the pigment, of a needle inserted within the said passage for controlling the flow of the pigment, means for effecting the longitudinal movement of the needle, and a fixed sleeve surrounding the needle and at its ends snugly inclosin g the needle properly to aline the needle and guide the same in its longitudinal travel, the intermediate portion of the bore of the said sleeve, being enlarged to gather particles of the pigment that may be drawn IOC back along the needle, substantially as described.

4. In an air-brush, the combination with a portion provided with apassage for conveying the liquid pigment to the point of application, of a needle for controlling the flow of the pi gmen t, an air-passage for conveying air under pressure to effect the flow of the pig'- ment, a valve for controlling the supply of air under pressure, a finger-lever foreffecting the operation of the said valve by downward pressure thereon, and mechanism intervening between the said finger-lever and the needle for efiecting, through the agency of said lever when moved lengthwise of the instrument, the operation of the said needle, the said mechanism normally being out of engagement with the fin ger-lever, the said lever being brought into engagement with the said mechanism when the needle is to be actuated, substantially as described.

5. In an air-brush, the combination with a portion provided with a passage for conveying liquid pigment, of a needle in the said passage for controlling the flow of the pigment, a finger-lever for moving the needle longitudinally, a sleeve n surrounding the needle, a second sleeve 8 having threaded engagement with the sleeve 91 and being thereby ad j ustable longitudinally of the same, the sleeve 8 being secured to the needle, while the sleeve n is adapted for engagement with the fingerlever, substantially as described.

6. In an air-brush, the combination with a portion provided with a passage for conveying liquid pigm ent, of a needle in the said passage for controlling the flow of the pigment, a finger-lever for moving the needle longitudinally, and a part at secured to the needle and adapted to be engaged directly by the fingerlever to effect the longitudinal movement of the needle, the said part 17. being adjustable longitudinally with respect to the needle and the said finger-lever, whereby the initial set of the needle maybe adjusted and proper lost motion between the finger-lever and the part 11. provided for to prevent useless wear between these parts, substantially as described.

7. In an air-brush, the combination with a portion provided with a passage for conveying liquid pigment, of a needle in the said passage for controlling the flow of the pigment, a finger-lever for moving the needle longitudinally, a sleeve n surrounding the needle and adapted at one end to engage the finger-lever and united at the other end with the needle, and means for eflecting the longitudinal adj ustment of the sleeve n with relation to the needle and the finger-lever, substantially as described.

' 8. In an air-brush, the combination with a portion provided with a passage for conveying liquid pigment,of a needle in the said passage for controlling the flow of the pigment, a finger-lever for moving the needle longitudinally, a sleeve n surrounding the needle and adapted at one end to engage the finger-lever and united at the other end with the needle,

means for effecting the longitudinal adjustment of the sleeve n with relation to the needle and the finger-lever, and means for preventing the rotation of the sleeve 11, substantially as described.

9. In an air-brush, the combination with a portion provided with a passage for conveying liquid pigment, of a needle in the said passage for controlling the flow of the pigment, a finger-lever for moving the needle longitudinally, a sleeve 71 surrounding the needle and adapted for engagement at one end with the finger-lever, and a second sleeve 3 also surrounding the needle and secured thereto, the sleeve 8 having threaded engagement with the sleeve 91 and being adjustable upon the said sleeve to effect the desired initial set of the needle, substantially as described.

10. In an air-brush, the combination witha portion provided with apassage for conveying liquid pigment, of a needle in the said passage for controlling the flow of the pigment, a finger-lever for moving the needle longitudinally, a sleeve n surrounding the needle and adapted for engagement at one end with the finger-lever, a second sleeve 5 also surroundin g the needle and secured thereto, the sleeve shaving threaded engagement with the sleeve 01 and being adjustable upon the said sleeve to effect the desired initial set of the needle, and means for effecting the adjustment of the sleeve a longitudinally of the needle, substantially as described.

11. In an air-brush, the combination with a portion provided with a passage for conveying liquid pigment, of a needle in the said passage for controlling the flow of the pigment, a fin ger-lever for moving the needle longitudinally, a sleeve 11 surrounding the needle and adapted for engagement at one end with the finger-lever, and a second sleeve 3 also surrounding the needle and secured thereto, the sleeve 8 having threaded engagement with the sleeve n and being adjustable upon the said sleeve to effect the desired initial set of the needle, a slot or opening being provided in the casing of the brush to permit access to the sleeve 8 to effect its longitudinal adj ustment, substantially as described.

12. In an air-brush, the combination with a needle forcontrolling the fiow of the pigment, of a sleeve surroundingthe needle and having a tapered seat, a plug having a bore for inclosing the needle, and means for forcing the said plug between the seat and the needle, substantially as described.

13. In an air-brush, the combination with a needle for controlling the flow of the pigment, of a sleeve surrounding the needle and having a tapered seat, a slotted plug having a bore for inclosing the needle, and means for forcing the said plug between the seat and the needle, substantially as described.

14. In an air-brush, the combination with a needle for controlling the flow of the pigment, of asleeve surrounding the needle and having a tapered seat, a slotted plug having a bore for inclosing the needle, means for forcing the said plug between the seat and the needle, and a cap-screw for engaging the slotted plug and forcing the same into firm engagement with the said seat and needle, substantially as described.

15. In an air-brush, the combination with a sleeve or portion d having a passage for conveyin g the pigment, the said sleeve being provided with a tapered tip provided with an elongated tapered bore forming a continuation ofthe aforesaid passage, the said tip also having a tapered exterior surface, of a nozzle f having a tapered air-passage between the interior wall thereof and the said tip, the outer wall of the latter air-passage tapering at a more obtuse angle than the inner, the said nozzle being longitudinally adjustable, and a needle provided in the passage for conveying the pigment, a portion 0 supporting and inclosing the nozzle f and having threaded engagement upon its interior with said nozzle for efiecting the longitudinal movement of the said needle, substantially as described.

16. In an air-brush, the combination with a sleeve or portion (2 having a passage for conveying the pigment, the said sleeve being provided with a tapered tip provided with a tapered bore forming a continuation of the OLAUS C. WOLD.

Witnesses:

GEORGE L. CRAGG, CHASLE. HUBERT. 

